Kim Seon-soon, ex-Seoul women's policy chief, quietly backed Oh Se-hoon's campaign

Kim Seon-soon, the first woman to pass Seoul's senior civil service exam and a trailblazer in female public administration, drew attention for quietly playing a behind-the-scenes role in Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's campaign during the June 3 local elections.

Kim served four years as director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Policy Office — the first woman to hold a Grade 1 (director-general) position in the city government — leading welfare, women's and family policy. She took early retirement late last year with one year remaining in her term, stepping aside to open opportunities for junior civil servants, and now works as a research professor at the University of Seoul.

According to political sources, Kim chaired the "Special Committee on Combating Drugs and Social Unrest" within Oh's campaign, contributing to policy development and advisory work during the local elections.

Her move stood in contrast to a number of former senior Seoul city officials who joined the camp of Democratic Party candidate Jeong Won-oh. Those who backed Jeong's campaign included former Nowon-gu Deputy District Mayor Kim In-cheol, former Seoul Metro President Baek Ho, former First Deputy Mayor Jo In-dong, former Culture Bureau Director Yu Yeon-sik, former Second Deputy Mayor Kim Hak-jin and former SH Corporation director Jeong Yu-seung.

Kim joined Oh's camp and contributed to drafting campaign pledges on public safety and strengthening the social safety net. She put forward practical policy alternatives in areas closely tied to daily life — including drug crime prevention, treatment and rehabilitation support, protection of vulnerable groups, and safety measures for crime-prone populations, all issues that have emerged as pressing social concerns.

Having served in key posts including the Seoul Welfare Policy Office and the Women and Family Policy Office, Kim is credited within the campaign with raising the quality of policy proposals, drawing on her extensive hands-on administrative experience and deep understanding of how the city government operates.

Observers note that her decision to join the campaign reflected a long-standing relationship of trust rather than political calculation. She accepted a request from a senior campaign official and chose to provide quiet, practical support rather than take a visible political role.

"Kim Seon-soon has long been regarded as a civil servant who values loyalty," a Seoul city official said. "She is the type to carry out her responsibilities without seeking the spotlight, so it is my understanding that she brought her expertise to bear in supporting public safety policy during this election as well."

With 36 years of public service behind her, Kim continues to make her presence felt in public policy after retirement, having helped chart new ground in women's and welfare administration throughout her career.